Politics is said to make strange bedfellows, but the opposition of some Republicans to Chuck Hagels nomination as Secretary of Defense is downright surreal. The former two-term Republican Senator from Nebraska is President Obamas choice to run the Pentagon for the next four years.

Over the next several weeks youll be hearing arguments from the likes of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and other prominent Republicans that Hagel doesnt measure up to conservative standards for serving as the nations top military official. However, the more you scrutinize Hagels resume, the more you have to wonder whether anyone could meet those standards if he cant. Chuck Hagels nomination is a gift to Republicans, and they ought to take a closer look at the qualities he would bring to the Pentagons fabled E-Ring before assailing his suitability to serve.

Since the Republican Party at its core is mainly about domestic politics and values, Im going to put the caisson ahead of the horse here by speaking first about Hagels accomplishments as a politician. When Chuck Hagel won his initial run for the Senate in 1996, he was the first Republican to accomplish that feat in the Cornhusker State in a quarter-century. His reelection bid six years later was so successful  he garnered 83% of the vote  that no other politician in Nebraskas history had ever won statewide office by such a lopsided margin. Whens the last time you heard of a Republican senatorial candidate doing so well in a contested election?

If you think that Hagel engineered his election wins by being a mealy-mouthed centrist, guess again. In the Senate, he favored school prayer, missile defense and drilling in Alaska while opposing abortion, same-sex marriage and limits on assault guns.

On the one hand this seems disingenuous. Hagel won’t be opposing abortion on military bases if he’s working for Obama. Or gays in the military. On the other hand, some of his “conservative” critics aren’t that concerned about those issues, either.

Since the Republican Party at its core is mainly about domestic politics and values

Oh brother. Another attempt to paint conservatives (never mind the GOP) as jingoistic isolationists, while failing to define the opposition. Never mind trying to induce them to look the other way while an open antisemite gets appointed to the top position in the countrys defense.

So Republicans should see Chuck Hagels nomination for what it is: an unexpected gift that would install one of their own in the Obama Administrations top cabinet job.

And just why does the esteemed author think Obama wants him in that job? If Hagel represented anything that was against Obama and his agenda, we would never have heard a single thing about this man. (Oh yes, all Republicans are the same and Hagel is one of their own.) Appending a barf alert . . .

So Republicans should see Chuck Hagels nomination for what it is: an unexpected gift that would install one of their own in the Obama Administrations top cabinet job.

If only the author were honest. Even within such a brief article, it is clear that Chuck Hagel today is not the same Chuck Hagel that was originally elected Senator in 1996. The dear soul came to Washington...and "grew".

He "grew" so much, in fact, that after being re-elected with a rousing 83% majority in 2002, he couldn't have been elected dogcatcher in Grand Island in 2008. Which is why Chuck Hagel chose to retire, rather than stand for re-election again.

"One of their own"? Hardly. At least, not anymore.

In a party where national security has always been a guiding strength, Chuck Hagel is the SOD who would happily hollow out the force and leave it fit for ceremonial duties only.

For me, I didn't give up hope until Elian. When the country CHEERED that storm trooper sticking a machine gun in a 6 year old's face ... FWIW, my flag went into the attic that day and has never flown again.

14
posted on 01/29/2013 8:04:54 AM PST
by Forgotten Amendments
(I remember when a President having an "enemies list" was a scandal. Now, they have a kill list.)

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